Babs turned in her bed and opened one eye. She blew her mane from her eyes and looked around, at the old posters of DJ Pon3, partially covered with photos of some local underground bands, usually having weird names such as “Mutated Foals”, “The Followers of Tirek” or “Earth Pony Revolution”. The gramophone on her desk was silent, but there was still a record of Bethooven’s string quartets played by Octavia Melody on it. Babs looked at the clock – it was barely 7 AM. She yawned and decided to go back to sleep – it was Saturday and she didn’t have to pretend that she was going to school. Or, from time to time, actually go to school.
She heard knocking at the door and her mother rushing to answer. Who could it be at that hour? she thought.
“She’s sleeping,” she heard her mother’s voice. “Who are you?”
“It’s important… I’m her… classmate,” another voice replied. She recognised it as belonging to Hedgehog.
Oh fuck… Babs got out from bed and looked around, trying to find her comb. Apparently, her parents had started to treat her room as a storage for all the things they didn’t need and she had problems with moving through it without tripping over something.
“Babs!” her mother called. “Your… friend wants to talk with you.”
Babs could easily sense barely hidden disgust in her mother’s voice. Hedgehog, together with his bandmates (she didn’t remember the name of the band, but it sounded like “Clockwork Alicorn” or something equally random) lived in his friends’ record studio – an old, rotten ruin without hot water. Spending even a few minutes there resulted in becoming soaked with the smell of mould, sweat and weed.
She found the comb and was trying to do something about her mane, when the door to her room bursted open.
“Can’t you knock?” Babs growled, but then lowered her voice to a whisper. “I could be givin’ myself an orgasm of my life or somethin’…”
“As if I didn’t see ya when you–“ Hedgehog paused when he saw Babs’ glare.
“My mom can listen to us,” Babs whispered. “What’s that important matter?”
“It’s about those dru–“ Again, Hedgehog was silenced.
“Maybe we’ll talk outside?” Babs asked. “Wait for me there, I need to clean myself…”
When he left, she fell on her bed, shivering. If something was wrong about the delivery, she was already dead. She could jump out of the window; the effect would be the same.
She slowly got up and trotted to the bathroom to take a shower. Cold water helped her wake up and get her bearings. Maybe it wasn’t about the delivery? After all, everything was allright. They didn’t steal anything… The client seemed happy. What happened?
She dried herself with a towel. Then she trotted out of the bathroom and put on her jacket.
“Going somewhere?” Her mother appeared in the kitchen door.
“I’ll be right back,” Babs replied. “Just an hour or so, and I’m back.”
“Do you want something to eat?”
“No, thanks. Maybe later.” Babs shuddered. How long would it take before they’d notice that she was gone? A week? A month? Never?
She left the flat and joined Hedgehog downstairs. She put a cigarette in her mouth and tried to get her lighter, but her hooves were too shaky. Hedgehog shook his head and lit the cigarette with his magic.
“Thanks,” Babs muttered. They trotted down the street. “What’s goin’ on?”
“It’s about that client yesterday. He’s not happy about the service…” Hedgehog replied.
“Not my problem.” Babs shrugged. “He should complain to the guy who sells him coke.”
“He did. He said the big guy that when he was looking for money to pay ya, one of ya nicked his wallet,” Hedgehog said.
“His wa– Oh fuck!” Babs suddenly remembered White Dove playing with the pockets of her jacket when she’d been leaving them. “I’ll stick that cunt’s horn into her ass! While still attached to the forehead!”
Several ponies looked at her. She didn’t even bother to look back – she knew that after a couple of seconds everypony would just shrug it off and go back to what they were doing. It was Manehattan after all.
“Is it technically possible?” Hedgehog asked. “Ya’d break her spine…”
“Ya don’t say!” Babs exclaimed. “Now we have to find her and hope she didn’t waste everythin’ on some shit…”
She took another cigarette from the pack and used the butt of the previous one to light it. Then she quickened her pace, heading to the nearest underground station. Even though it was the weekend, it was full of ponies. Babs was running through the crowd, bumping into scared tourists, beggars, prostitutes, insane prophets and street musicians. It was like a second, underground city, darker and more dangerous than the surface of Manehattan, but, just like it, having its own set of rules.
With a terrible screech, the train arrived at the station. The door opened and Babs trotted inside, holding her breath. She kicked a kid who seemed like he was going to pickpocket her and stood next to a group of tourists, who backed away upon seeing her. She realised that she was still holding a cigarette in her mouth. She looked at it and sighed – it was still more than a half left. She gave the tourists a nasty glare and continued smoking. After all, they had to get used to the life in the big town.
“What will we do with Dove?” Hedgehog asked.
“Nothin’,” Babs replied. “Though I’m considerin’ beatin’ the crap outta her. Not because she deserves it, but because we’ll have to take her to the big guy. Maybe if she’s beaten red and blue, he’ll feel compassion and won’t kill her.”
Hedgehog chuckled. “He and compassion? Please.”
Babs threw the cigarette butt on the floor of the carriage and stomped on it. She saw that the tourists weren’t paying attention to her anymore, focused on someone who just stood up and began telling prophecies in a slurred voice, spraying saliva at the ponies next to him.
“There will be the day when the sister will turn against the sister! A ponykind will drown in the blood of their siblings, parents and neighbours! A pony will kill another pony…”
“Sounds like every weekend in my neighbourhood,” Babs deadpanned. “C’mon, Hedge, it’s our station.”
The train skid to a halt. Babs trotted through the hall, breathing deeply to get rid of the air from the carriage. They reached the stairs and climbed. The morning sun blinded Babs for a moment. She covered her eyes with her hoof and looked around, trying to recall where White Dove lived.
“I think it was there,” Hedgehog said, pointing at the nearest side street. “Dunno, I don’t go here often…”
“Me neither,” Babs replied. She thought about another cigarette, but she could already feel a slight headache and an unpleasant bitterness in her stomach. They trotted in the direction chosen by Hedgehog, wondering what they’d do if they’d encounter a guard.
“Guard ain’t a problem,” Hedgehog muttered. “I’m afraid of her parents’ reaction when they see us…”
“Ya didn’t have such problems with my parents…” Babs replied.
“Yeah, but… well, yer parents are different, right? Dove’s parents are important or somethin’…”
“Are ya suggestin’ that my folks ain’t important?”
“No, but…” Hedgehog scratched his head. “Ya know, money, position…”
“If ya say ‘system’, I’m gonna kick ya to the next Friday…” Babs groaned.
“That too…” Hedgehog nodded.
“Sometimes I hate ya…”
“Oh, c’mon. I know that ya love me…” Hedgehog tried to kiss Babs’ cheek, but she swiftly evaded him. “Just wait till the evening…”
“If we won’t end up in the bay…” Babs muttered. “By the evening I may be kinda cold…”
“Meh. Even when ya were cold, ya’d still be cute…” Hedgehog replied.
“Your Cracker is showin’.” Babs chuckled. “Dead fillies ain’t say no and so on…”
Hedgehog said nothing. They saw White Dove’s house in the distance.
Luckily, they didn’t have to get past the guards. When they were only a block away from the skyscraper, they saw White Dove trotting somewhere, jumping from time to time. Babs couldn’t contain herself any longer; she galloped to her and pushed her against the wall of a nearby building.
“What the–“ Dove was interrupted by a rather painful prod to the ribs.
“Oh, no, girl…” Babs muttered through gritted teeth. “It’s my turn to ask what the fuck…”
“What?” Dove looked at her, tears welling in her eyes.
“The wallet!” Babs exclaimed. “What the fuck have ya done with that imbecile’s wallet?”
“I… I took it… and…” Dove’s forehead was soaked with sweat.
“And what? Do you still have it?”
“N-no… I bought myself a d-dress…”
Babs released her and rolled her eyes. “Just great… Just fuckin’ great! That guy’s gonna skin us because ya wanted a dress!” She took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, blowing smoke into Dove’s face. “Now ya’ll go to him and explain…”
She trotted down the street. White Dove, however, stood still on the pavement.
“What are ya lookin’ at?” Hedgehog yelled at her. “C’mon!”
Dove walked automatically behind them, shaking as if she’d just got out from the cold water. Babs waited for her and patted her mane.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “We won’t let him hurt ya…”
Dove looked at her unsurely, trying to hold back tears.
“Sorry for snapping at ya like that…” Babs muttered. “Just… don’t do that anymore, okay?”
Dove only nodded.
One quick trip with the underground later, they were in front of a quite peculiar house. Unlike other buildings in Manehattan, it was neither large and shiny, nor dirty and ruined. It was perfectly average – and that was why it was so unusual. With a heavy sigh, Babs trotted to the door and knocked.
The door opened and Babs faced the barrel of a submachine gun. A large earth pony with sunglasses who was holding it looked at her curiously.
“Our filly scout,” he said in a deep voice. “Come inside…”
Babs gulped and trotted down the corridor slowly. Hedgehog followed her, but White Dove hesitated. The pony with a gun approached her.
“C’mon, kid…” he muttered. “We’re not gonna hurt you… yet.”
White Dove trotted dutifully behind Babs and Hedgehog. Finally, they entered the living room where, lying on the couch next to an aquamarine pegasus mare, was the brown unicorn with a cropped mane. His suit was gone; the mare’s hoof was gently caressing his penis, not even bothering to stop upon seeing them.
“Well, well, well…” the unicorn muttered, looking into Babs’ eyes. “You’ve got some explaining to do, girl…”
Babs gulped. She briefly thought about telling him that she’d stolen Neon Lights’ wallet, but suddenly she saw White Dove taking a step forward.
“I stole that wallet,” she muttered through gritted teeth, looking at the floor beneath her hooves. “And I don’t have the money…”
The unicorn clicked his tongue. “Those kids start so early…” He shook his head. “Well, girl… You can consider yourself lucky… I need all my filly scouts…”
White Dove sighed with relief, but Babs remained tense. She knew that thug for too long to expect good intentions from him.
“However…” the brown unicorn said. “Mr. Lights is an idiot, but he’s an idiot who has money. Such behaviour can’t go unpunished.” He turned to White Dove. “Luckily, you’ll have a chance to redeem yourself. Special delivery. On Tuesday.”
“No!” Babs exclaimed. Everypony, including the mare, looked at her. “I can do that instead of her…” she said.
“Oh, no...” the unicorn shook his head. “She needs to learn. Also, as I told you yesterday, you don’t look exactly innocent… No discussion!” he exclaimed, seeing that Babs opened her mouth to say something. “Now, get the fuck out. All of you.”
When they left the house, Babs began to search her pockets nervously. She wanted to smoke another cigarette, but her whole body was protesting against it.
“Fuck!” she exclaimed loudly, when she found an empty pack. She threw it on the ground and stomped on it.
“What’s wrong?” White Dove asked. “We’re alive…”
“Can ya stop bein’ dumb for a moment?” Babs snapped at her. “Ya’re alive till Tuesday. Then ya’re fucked.”
White Dove shuddered. “What’s that special delivery?” she asked.
“It’s simple,” Babs replied. “There’s some rich guy in prison, who needs drugs. They’re gonna fill a condom with cocaine, stick it up your ass and send ya to prison as his daughter or granddaughter. If the guards don’t buy that, then goodbye. A JDC if ya’re lucky, boot camp if ya’re not. How long can ya survive in such a place?”
“I give her five minutes,” Hedgehog muttered. “Three, if the guards don’t mind the inmates havin’ home-made strap-ons.”
“That wasn’t funny.” Babs glared at him angrily. “And the worse thing is, there’s no escape. Those guys will get ya anywhere…”
“Maybe they won’t catch me…” White Dove said in an emotionless tone. “Maybe I’ll make it…”
“Yeah, surely…” Babs muttered. “Now, get out. I don’t wanna see ya today anymore…”
“But we were supposed to mug those bitches from my class today…”
“Ya still don’t have enough?” Hedgehog asked. “Ya can’t go there anyway. They know ya. Babs is right – go home and don’t show up till Tuesday. We’ll try to talk to him…”
White Dove nodded and trotted down the street, to the nearby underground station. Hedgehog watched her for some time before turning back to Babs.
“What’re we gonna do?” he asked.
“First, I’m gonna go home and… think,” Babs replied. “Then, at night, we’ll find Raz and Cracker and get those rich cunts. I need to kick somepony’s flank today…”
Babs looked behind the corner. Even here, she could hear the loud music coming from the club. Bright neon lights were bathing the street in green and red glow. There were lots of ponies trotting around the building. Some of them were smoking, some of them cuddling their partners. Just a typical Saturday evening in Manehattan.
“Can ya see ‘em?” Cracker asked.
“Nope,” Babs replied. She took a balisong knife from her pocket and opened it, recalling how she’d won it in a poker game. Then, she’d gotten into a fight with the previous knife owner, but she’d managed to get out of there in one piece.
“D’ya at least know how they look like?” Hedgehog asked.
“Rich cunts, unicorns. Look for the most expensive clothes ya can find,” Babs replied.
“Sounds like almost everyone there,” Raz muttered.
“Guys…” Babs shook her head. “No subtlety at all. I can recognise a rich cunt when I see one…”
She looked behind the corner again, and saw two unicorns leaving the club.
“See ‘em? Dresses for seven hundred bits each, purses for two and three hundred, that one on the left has sunglasses for four hundred… Who the fuck needs sunglasses at night? Nevermind. That’s our clients for tonight. Cracker!”
“Yes?”
“Follow ‘em.”
Cracker saluted mockingly and took off. The rest of the group began to walk through the side streets, carefully observing where he was flying.
“Once they’re alone, we’re gettin’ ‘em,” Babs muttered. “We need to be quick – they may have friends here…”
She looked into the sky and noticed that Cracker turned sharply and lowered his flight.
“Where are they goin’?” Hedgehog asked.
“Dunno. Maybe there’s some club there…” Babs replied. She trotted through the empty street and saw the two unicorns entering a nook.
“Now it’s our chance… Raz, you and Cracker will approach ‘em from the back. We’ll circle that building and get them…”
Raz nodded and they split. Babs and Hedgehog galloped down the pavement and turned behind the corner. Now they could not only see their victims, but also hear them.
“What do you think about that guy?” the taller of the fillies asked.
“Boring… but hey, he’s rich. I can forgive him that…” the other filly, the one with sunglasses replied.
“You’d stick a horn up his ass if he shown you some bits…” Her companion laughed. “Sometimes you really are a who–“
“Freeze!” Babs shouted, standing in front of them. She saw Cracker landing behind them and Raz joining him. She took her knife and saw that Hedgehog levitated his. “Don’t even try to scream… Give me your money and jewellery…”
The fillies looked at her as if she was an alien.
“What are ya waitin’ for, cunts? An invitation?” Babs asked. “Money, or I’ll rip your cutie marks off your pretty flanks…”
“Did you hear that, Raspberry?” the taller filly said. “Those dirty rats want to rob us…”
Babs approached her, grabbed her mane and put the knife to her cheek.
“Listen, whore,” she hissed. “Normally I just take the money and go away. But today, I had a really bad day… No, I won’t kill ya… But open your mouth once more, and I’ll make your grin really, really wide… Ya know, it heals, but it’ll leave a really pretty scar on your face…” She pulled her hair, causing her to moan. “Understood?”
“Understood…” the filly panted. “Raspberry, do what they say…”
Raspberry took her purse and began searching through it. Babs tore the necklace off her neck and hid it in her pocket. Hedgehog approached Raspberry, waiting for the money.
“Fuck off!” Raspberry yelled, taking some spray from her purse and pushing it. Even though Babs was far from her, she felt the smell of the pepper gas. Hedgehog backed away, holding one hoof on his eyes.
Babs blinked. She reacted instinctively; when the filly tried to hit she lifted the hoof with a knife and hit her with it. She heard a gurgling scream and her victim collapsed. Raspberry, also blind after her attack, darted forward. Cracker took off and started to chase her.
The filly had no chance. After only a few steps, the pegasus dived at her and pinned her to the ground. He punched her and ripped her dress.
“Cracker, no!” Babs shouted, seeing that he was trying to spread Raspberry’s hind legs.
“She attacked us first…” Cracker replied, holding the thrashing filly’s throat. “She knew what she was gettin’ into…”
“They’ll catch us…” Babs shouted. She ran to Cracker and caught his wing, causing him to groan. She pulled him away from Raspberry, who was still lying on the street, hyperventilating.
“Yeah, as if they don’t catch us after what you did…” Cracker replied.
“What I…” Babs looked at the quickly growing puddle of blood and her own knife lying next to the motionless body. Raz, who was standing above it, shook his head.
“Exactly…” Cracker nodded grimly. “So, as we have this matter settled, can you let me…”
“No.” Babs tried to keep her voice steady, but she couldn’t contain shaking. “Hedgehog, get her,” she said, pointing at Raspberry.
Before Raspberry could run away, a flash of Hedgehog’s magic pulled her to him. Raz quickly put a piece of cloth in her mouth and they pulled her into a nearby alley.
“And what will ya do with her?” Cracker asked. “Keep her till the end of the world? She saw us.”
“I’ll think about it later…” Babs replied. “What will we do with the body…”
“Yeah, it’s a mess…” Cracker yawned. “Just take yer knife and let’s get the fuck outta here. Did ya really have to stab her through the artery? Ya should’ve hit her to the head, then we’d dump her to the bay or on the rail tracks and sayonara. No one would want to look through that jelly…”
“Can’t we do that now?” Hedgehog asked, holding crying Raspberry.
“Yeah, if ya have a way to explain how a puddle of her blood suddenly appeared in the middle of the street,” Cracker replied. “Though I might try, just to mess with the cops…”
Babs gulped. Her face was pale and she was shaking, but somehow she felt that she had to make that decision. “Do that,” she said. “We’ll take care of that second bitch…”